Just Keep Swimming!

This post spans a bit of time... the boys took week long swim class over February break, and they are taking classes now once a week.. you'll see pictures of both sessions!  What has become clear to me this year that the teacher makes ALL the difference!  Especially with Cole.  He had a teacher who we initially thought was great, but Cole suddenly developed a fear of water, she was having them float around alone on noodles and barbells.  We learned from the 2nd teacher that it wasn't a fear of water, it was a fear of drowning and that he was not ready to be let go of, with his new teacher he has become very comfortable in the water which is very exciting since before now he has never really shown an interest in the water.  Last summer he spent the summer on the pool deck throwing things into the pool or filling buckets and dumping them, never spending much time in the pool.

So the first set of pictures are a bit deceiving.. they were of their very first class during vacation.  Cole looks happy, and actually was.. it wasn't until class 2 through 5 where he was pretty much petrified!

Caden is a social butterfly.. chatting up the girl in his class while he waits for his turn to go.

Vacation teacher used a lot of swim aids.. this sessions teacher has them do everything on their own... I haven't decided yet which is better, he definitely has better form when using this setup!  But without them he is growing stronger.

 

Jumping...

  

Now onto this session.. my disclaimer is that the week session was during the day with gorgeous light streaming in the windows... this session is at night, and the pictures were taken before daylight savings so it was dark and they are a bit blurry because of it!

Caden often looks like Popeye with one eye open and one eye closed until he wipes the water from his face.

His new instructor.. Mr. Phil (who is awesome by the way!) has them jump from the blocks.. and with no noodle, he finally is jumping and going under... and LOVING it!  He was coddled before by the instructors, Mr. Phil is no nonsense!

He loves to float!

And they all love to kick to splash Mr. Phil

And Cole!  He has become a little fishy!  Although unlike his everyday life his swimming (and bike riding) is a bit lackadaisical.. this particular day he had a substitute teacher and he was swimming like spaz!  It made me laugh out loud it was so cute!

Cora is a good sport watching her brothers swim.  I've had enough of the parent-child classes!  I could practically teach them in my sleep!  So once it is closer to swim season I'll start going to open swim with Cora to get her ready for pool season!

swimming like a crazy person!...

.. and loving it!